Portable micro



W. A. PFAFF PORTABLE MICROFILM CAMERA March 17, 1964 Original Filed Aug.11 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllll llll l\ ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 w. A.PFAFF 3,124,996

PORTABLE MICROFILM CAMERA 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 11. 1951mmmmmmmmmmmm March 17, 1964 w. A. PFAFF 3,124,996

PORTABLE MICROFILM CAMERA Original Filed Aug. 11. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3March 17, 1964 w. A. PFAFF 3,124,996

PORTABLE MICROFILM CAMERA Original Filed Aug. 11. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4mm mm mm Wm QR m NN WAG March 17, 1964 W. A. PFAFF PORTABLE MICROFILMCAMERA Original Filed Aug. 11, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HL'ZZL'a/n A. Pf'af'f' ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 w, PFAFF 3,124,996

PORTABLE MICROFILM CAMERA Original Filed Aug. 11, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOR. William A. P/aff' Patented Mar. 17, 1964 3,124,996 PORTABLEMICROFILM CAMERA William A. Pfalf, East Norwalk, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Photostat Corporation, Rochester, N. a corporationof Rhode Island Application July 13, 1956, Ser. No. 600,647, now PatentNo. 3,010,361, dated Nov. 28, 1961, which is a division of applicationSer. No. 241,418, Aug. 11, 1951, now Patent No. 2,771,816, dated Nov.27, 1956. Divided and this application Sept. 16, 1960,, Ser. No. 65,556

2 Claims. (Cl. 8817) This invention relates to cameras and moreparticularly to cameras of the flow type in which feed mechanismadvances the subject material to be photographed into an illuminatedzone, and an optical system forms an image thereof upon a moving lightsensitive strip to produce thereon a photographic recording of thesubject material. In its more specific aspects this invention isconcerned with a microfilm camera of the flow type particularly of smallor portable size and constitutes a division of my copending applicationSerial No. 600,647, filed July 13, 1956, now Patent No. 3,010,361, whichwas a division of its copending application Serial No. 241,418, filedAugust 11, 1951, now Patent No. 2,771,- 816, granted November 27, 1956.

Microfilrning cameras and film developing equipment are now extensivelyused by large corporations and organizations to record important orvaluable documents. These machines are rather large and expensive andthe volume of Work done on them justifies the employment of personnelspecially trained in their use and operation.

There are many smaller concerns which have need for microfilmed recordsof documents and other material but whose volume of work is notsufiicient to justify acquiring such expensive apparatus or hiringspecially trained persons to operate them. At the present time the onlyalternative which they have is to send their work to be microfilmed toprofessionals or to have professionals bring in microfilming equipmentto photograph documents after a sufiicient quantity has been accumulatedto justify the expense.

The present invention seeks to supply the needs of these smallerconcerns and organizations by providing a comparatively inexpensivemicrofilming camera which is so constructed and arranged that it can beoperated by ordinary ofiice personnel without special or extensivetraining and to facilitate the insertion and removal of the photographicstrip and the shipping of the exposed strip for processing.

The camera of the present invention is advantageous not only to smallconcerns but also to larger concerns which for convenience may desireseveral cameras at diiferent locations about the plant, or in branchoffices removed from the main plant or ofiice.

To this end, the camera of the present invention is constructed andorganized so that it may be made small and light in weight and the partsare nested and fitted together so as to permit the desired degree ofreduction of the original work within the small compass of the camera.The need for expensive and complicated timing mechanism is alsoobviated. The feed mechanism for the subject material or work is simpleand so conveniently arranged that the Work enters one side of thecamera, is propelled across an illuminated area and projected from thecamera at the other side thereof. The light sensitive strip which may bea transparent film is provided in magazine form to be placed in thecamera as a unit and has parts cooperating with the parts in the cameraso that the strip is fed coordinately with the movement of the work andstops when the Work has passed the illuminated zone without requiringany attention on the part of the operator. The feed mechanism draws thestrip across the exposure area and keeps it taut during recording. Thus,instead of requiring the skill and dexterity of threading the lightsensitive strip through slots and over sprockets as is the case withprofessional cameras, the user of the camera of the present inventionneed merely thrust the magazine into the camera to prepare for recordingand pull it from the camera when the recording has been completed. Theoptical system, including the lens, is contained in the camera and hasno component parts in or on the magazine. After the strip in themagazine is completely exposed, it may be mailed or otherwise deliveredto the manufacturer or other agency to have the strip developed.

The use of a magazine in a microfilm camera has another importantadvantage in that documents of a class, checks for instance, may besegregated and recorded on the same strip. When these have beenphotographed, the magazine may be taken from the camera and anothermagazine inserted in the camera to photograph documents of another classor kind and this may be done sporadically and alternately until eachspool is filled, there being no necessity of exposing the entire stripin the magazine before the magazine is removed. To protect the stripwhile it is out of the camera both before it is exposed and after it isexposed in whole or in part, a suitable shutter arrangement is providedon the magazine to close the aperture through which the strip isexposed.

While it has been stated that the primary purpose of this invention isto provide a light weight, inexpensive, portable camera, many of thefeatures of the present invention are not limited to a portable cameraor in fact to a microfilm camera.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation showing the portable microfilm camera inits carrying case.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation showing the sections of the carrying casein opened position for operation of the microfilm camera.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body portion of the portablemicrofilm camera of the present invention, as it could be used withoutthe carrying case.

FIG. 4 is an electrical wiring diagram of the portable microfilm camera.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the interior of thecamera with the front casing portion of the camera removed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation taken on the line 66of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the same plane as FIG. 6 butshowing the material to be microfilmed passing through the camera andwith the shutter in its open position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 ofFIG. 5, showing the driving means for the take-up spool of the filmmagazine.

FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of the removable film magazine of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a view in end elevation showing the position of the magazinein its operating position in the camera.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in cross-section showing a modification ofthe film strip driving means.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view in cross-section taken on the line 12-12of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary View in cross-section showing anothermodification of the film strip driving means.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a shutter shield andaperture covering mechanism which can be applied to the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly incross-section, showing the shutter shield and aperture coveringmechanism.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary plan view showing the shutter shield and theaperture covering mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentarywiew in elevation showing a modification of therotary solenoid mechanism for operating the lens shutter.

FIG; 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1818 of FIG. 17showing the modified solenoid of FIG. 17 and the modified lens shutter.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.1 and 2 of the drawings, the portable microfilm camera comprises acarrying case 20 somewhat generally resembling a portable radio in sizeand having two covering sections or compartments 21, 22 which are usedto enclose the main portion or body 23 of the camera when it is not inuse or being carried about. The sections 21, 22 are pivoted to the body23 of the camera by means of studs or pivot pins 24, 25 which protrudefrom the lower portion of the body 23, and whereon the casings 21, 22may be swung outwardly to open positions (somewhat like a piece ofluggage) when it is desired to use the camera.

As shown in FIG. 3, ventilating openings 28 are formed in the upperportion of the camera body 23 to provide for free access of air to andfrom the interior of the camera to prevent over-heating thereof. Theupper surface of the camera body 23 is provided with a hinged coverplate 29 closely conforming to the shape of the camera body and which isnormally maintained in closed condition by a detent device 33 or similarlocking means. This cover plate 29 may be opened upwardly to provide foraccess into the upper portion of the microfilm camera for purposes ofinspection, maintenance, replacement of parts, insertion or removing ofmagazines, etc.

An electrical connecting cord 37 of any conventional type is providedand connects the microfilm camera to a source of electrical currentwhereby the electrical elements of the camera may be operated.

In FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the pivot studs 24 and 25 and other relatedelements have been omitted, for the purposes of clarity and to show thatthe camera may be used as such without the enclosing sections 21, 22comprising the carrying case 20. Any objects such as knobs or controllevers which may protrude from the camera body may be set withinrecesses, as desired or required, when the camera body is to be carriedwithin the sections 21 and 22.

A carrying handle or grip 26 is secured to the upper portion of eitherone or both of the casings 21, 22 and provides a convenient means tocarry the camera to wherever it is to be moved and placed in use. Snapsor catches 27 of a conventional type are employed to lock the twosections 21, 22 together in closed condition to prevent accidentalopening thereof when not in use or during transit.

An arcuate slot 30 is formed in the lower portion of the casing 21 forcooperation with the pivot pin 24 and the curvature of this slot 30 issuch that the casing 21 is incapable of movement on the stud 24 when inclosed condition (FIG. 1) but may be swung outwardly and moved clear ofthe body 23 of the camera by merely releasing the catch 27, when it isdesired or necessary to do so. Slots 31 are provided at the other end ofthe section 21 whereby, afterthe section 21 has been removed from thebody 23, it may be reversed or turned about and re-engaged with the body23 by entering the studs 24 in the slots 31 in the position shown inFIG. 2, which is the normal operating position of the camera. Suitablecatches or detents (not shown) may be used to lock the section 21 inthis position so that a firm structure is obtained to hold the camerabody 23 in an upright position.

It is to be observed that the fiat outer surface 21' of the casing 21 isnow facing upwardly and forms a delivery table whereon material to besent through the microfilm camera may be placed and held in readiness tobe microfilmed. Inasmuch as the lower corner of the camera 23 protrudeswithin the body portion of the casing 21 in this configuration, ayielding angular flap 32 may be hingedly mounted on the casing 21 as at41 to form the corner thereof and to be capable of yielding movementwhen the casing 23 enters that corner space to form the configurationshown in FIG. 2.

When the camera body 23 and the casing 21 are separated, the angularflap 32 will immediately return to its original position as shown. inFIG. 1. Catches or snaps could, of course, be used instead of aresilient spring mounting and would merely require some additionalmanual manipulation in the setting up and reassembly of the camera.

An elongated opening 34 is formed in the lower portion of the casing 22for cooperation with the pivot pin 25 whereby the casing 22 may be swungoutwardly from the body 23 to the open position shown in FIG. 2. Asuitable catch or spring-pressed detent mounted on an arm 35 is arrangedon the body 23 and is adapted to cooperate with an opening 36 in thecasing 22 whereby it may be locked in the operating open position. It isto be observed that the casing 22 now forms a delivery receptacle ortrough shaped compartment to receive any material which has been sentthrough the microfilm camera.

A slot or entrance-39 is formed in the front wall of the camera body 23below a facing plate 38 and at the proper height so that material passedalong the surface 21' or along any similar table-like structure willnaturally enter the slot or entrance opening 39 for movement into andthrough the camera. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the opposite side or rearof the camera body 23 is cut away as at 40 so that any material advancedthrough the camera will naturally exit therethrough and slide into thedelivery receptacle formed by the casing 22, or by any other convenientdelivery opening or means positioned thereat.

A pair of positively driven feed rollers 42, 43 are located just withinthe entrance 39 and are so positioned that any material M inserted intothe entrance 39 will enter the bite between the rollers 42, 43 and willbe advanced in positive fashion through the body of the microfilmcamera. As best shown in'FIG. 7, the material M is advanced by thefeeding rollers 42, 43 through a zone Z wherein it is momentarilyunsupported by any structure before ending its flight in the deliveryreceptacle formed by casing 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper feed roller 42 is generally cylindricallyshaped and extends across substantially the full width of the camerabody 23 and is received within bearings (not shown) in the end wallsthereof. Narrow annular rubber bodies or rings 47 are positioned atintervals along the peripheral surface of the cylindrical feed roller 42and increase the gripping properties of the roller on any material Mpassing through the camera. The feed roller 42 is adapted to be drivenat a constant speed by a synchronous motor 48 by means of anyintervening mechanical linkages. For purposes of illustration,-this hasbeen shown as a cooperating pulley 49' mounted on the motor shaft 50 anda V- or power belt 51 which is trained around the pulley 49 and the feedroller 42 whereby it is driven. If desired, any speed reductionmechanism may be used to obtain the required roller rotation.

The lower feed roller 43 similarly is generally cylindrically shaped andextends across substantially the full width of the camera body 23 and isreceived within arms 55 of floating bearings 54, as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. The arms 55 are pivotally mounted on fixed studs 56 fixed in thecamera body and thus provide for pivotal movement of the lower feedrollers 43 toward or away from the upper feed rollers- 42. A helicaltension spring 57 is coiled around the stud 56 and has one end thereoffixedly secured within an opening in the wall of the cam era body andhas its other end Wrapped under the arm 55, whereby the arm will tend torotate upwardly in a clockwise direction to press the lower roller 43resiliently up against the upper roller 42. Annular rubber members 58are mounted at intervals along the peripheral surface of the lower feedroller 43 for frictional driving contact with the upper feed roller 42.

Consideration of FIG. 5 will also reveal that the outermost peripheralsurfaces of the annular rubber members 47, 58 radially overlap eachother to some degree whereby any material inserted between the feedrollers will tend to assume a slightly corrugated or undulatingconfiguration which extends longitudinally of the moving copy or subjectsheet. Such a corrugated shape will stiffen the material to cause it toextend in a straight line after it has passed through the feed rollersand aids in carrying the material through the zone Z without unduecurving or sagging thereof. As a result, merely a single pair of feedrollers is required to propel the material through the camera.

A mounting bracket 60 is secured to the opposite inner surface of therear wall of the camera body and has an angularly upturned frontdeflecting undersurface 61 which naturally serves to guide and directthe material M toward the opening at exit 40.

According to the present invention, the motor 48 and feed rollers 42 and43 operate While the camera is in use. Hence, documents or othermaterial M may be passed at any time into the aperture 39 .at one sideof the camera and Will be immediately gripped by the opposed feedrollers 42, 43, drawn into the camera, propelled through zone Z anddischarged from the other side of the camera.

Inasmuch as the material M is to be microfilmed during its passagethrough the camera, it is necessary that it be subjected to sufficienteven illumination in zone Z so that a satisfactory image thereof may beformed and recorded on the microfilm or other light sensitive material.For this purpose, a bank of lamp bulbs 63 mounted on a bracket 62 abovethe zone Z illuminates the material M passing through that zone. Asshown, these bulbs 63 are connected in series and are 12-16 volt 15 c.p.such as employed as taillights in vehicles using a 12 volt electricalsystem. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 5, there are elevenbulbs in series which would thus create a voltage drop across each bulbof approximately 10 volts for a standard 110 volt electrical system,whereas the bulb is designed to take 12-16 volts.

One advantage of using such an arrangement is that a greater useful lifemay be expected of the lamp bulbs inasmuch as a voltage lower than thatfor which the bulbs were originally designed is being impressed acrosstheir terminals. An advantage accruing from the use of a seriesarrangement is that the failure of any one bulb will cause the entireline to go out which will immediately call the attention of the operatorto the fact that a bulb has blown and needs replacement. If the bulbswere in parallel, the failure of any one bulb might not affect theoperation of the camera sufficiently to Warn the operator with theresult that the failure of the bulb could go unnoticed for quite a whileduring which time the illumination would not be even and may not besufficient, whereby unsatisfactory microfilming results may be obtained.Spare lamp bulbs 63' may be provided in a bracket in the camera body.

Reflectors 64 may be mounted on each side of the lamp bulbs 63 to directthe light downwardly into the zone Z and also to prevent the escape ofstray light into the upper portion of the camera or to parts of theoptical system which should be shielded from such undesirable light.

The optical system for forming the image of the material M on a lightsensitive strip S is shown in FIG. 7. The image of the particularportion of the material M being recorded at the time lies in portion Zof zone Z and is reflected upwardly to a light reflecting surface ormirror 65 from which it is reflected downwardly to a second lightreflecting surface or mirror 66 from which it is reflected upwardly inzigzag fashion to finally pass through a pair of lenses 67 secured in alight tube or lens mounting carried in the framework of the camera body23. After passing through the lenses 67, the path of the image passesthrough a narrow slit or aperture 70 in the mounting carrying the lenses67 and is then formed and photographically recorded on the strip S.

Adjustability of the light reflecting surfaces 65 and 66 is provided forby mounting them on brackets 71 and 60 secured to the camera body 23.Inasmuch as the adjustment is similar for both brackets, only theadjustment of bracket 60 will be described in detail. A flexible plate72 is fixed at one end thereof to the bracket 60 by a screw 74 and isadjustably secured at the other end thereof to the bracket 60 by anadjusting screw 76 which fits into a nut 75 secured to the flexibleplate 72. Movement of the adjusting screw 76 will cause the flexibleplate 72 to assume different angles with respect to the bracket 60whereby the direction of the folded zigzag path of the projected imageof the material may be varied within limits, as desired or necessary.

The dot-dash lines shown in FIG. 7 indicate the field of the lenses 67of the camera and it will be noted how only the portion of the materialM passing through the space Z will be photographically recorded on thestrip S of light sensitive material.

The present invention provides means of adjustment whereby materialhaving dilferent light reflecting characteristics may be microfilmed toyield consistently satisfactory results. Heretofore, in photography,this was done by varying the shutter opening, increasing or decreasingthe time of exposure, changing the illumination, etc. According to thepresent invention, it has been accomplished by the varying of the timeof exposure of the material to the light sensitive strip by varying theeffective length of the portion Z of zone Z which represents thetime-equivalent of exposure of any given portion of the material M. Inother words, the time required for any particular point or portion onthe material'M to pass completely through the length Z equals the timeof exposure of that point or portion to the moving strip S.

The increasing or decreasing of the effective portion Z is accompilshedby providing a gate postionable more or less across the optical path ofthe image. In the form shown, a pivotally mounted rod 77 carries a pairof flanged wing members 78, 7 8 and a control lever 86 which extendsforwardly from the rod and through a notched opening 81 formed in thefront surface of the camera body, as shown in FIG. 3. The front portionof the lever 86 is formed with a handle 79 and has a cross-sectionimmediately to its rear to fit within the notches of the opening 81,whereby the lever 80 may be moved to any desired position and heldtherein by the frictional locking action with the notched opening 81.

Consideration of FIG. 7 will reveal that, when the rod 77 is rotated ina clockwise direction, for example, the lower flange or Wing member 78will move into the right side of the path between the zone Z and thereflector 65, and cut off one margin portion. At the same time, theupper wing member 7 8 Will move into the image path between thereflectors 65 and 66 and cut off the other margin portion.

It will thus be appreciated that the rod 77 and the wing members 7 8, 78possess a double action whereby the path of the image is cut downsimultaneously from both sides. As a result, it is not necessary thatthe rod 77 be rotated through a very great angle nor that the wingmembers 78, 7 8 be of very great length in order to substantially reducethe length of the portion Z.

[A shutter 83 is provided and is capable of being positioned, as shownin FIG. 6, to effectively intercept the path of the image of the movingmaterial M and prevent itsformation on the light sensitive strip S. Theshutter 83 is also capable of rotation to a position, such as shown inFIG. 7, wherein it is ineffective as an intercepting means for the pathof the image and permits its photographic recording on the lightsensitive strip S.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 83 comprises a U- shaped bracket mountedon a rotatable collar or shaft 86 and has an upper arm 84 and a lowerarm '85. As shown, the upper arm 84 and the lower arm 85 are straightand formed from rectangular strip stock but such is merely for thepurpose of illustration and it is to be understood that other formscould be possible. For example, the arms could be arcuate incross-section and form arcs of circles with the axis of the rotatablecollar 86 forming a center. It is merely necessary that the shutter armssweep in paths effective to intercept the scope of the optical systemand to prevent the projection on the strip S of undesirable light orimages. Consideration of FIG. will reveal that the lower arm 85 ispositioned at a greater distance from the axis of the collar 86 than theupper arm 84. This is due to the fact that the path of the projectedimage is divergent and is wider where it is intercepted by the lower arm85 than where it is intercepted by the upper arm 84. As a consequence,the lower arm 85 has to sweep through a longer peripheral distance andthis is accomplished by making its radius arm to the axis of collar 86longer than the radius arm of the upper arm 84.

Inasmuch as it is desired to expose the strip S substantially only whenmaterial M is in position to be photographed, the shutter 83 is normallyin the position shown in FIG. 6, in which it blocks any light whichcould fall upon the lenses 67. As soon as the material M is placedbetween the bite of the feed rollers 42 and 43, a pair of curved triplevers or feelers 88 which are mounted on a rotatable shaft 90 locatedadjacent and parallel to the lower feed roller 43 are depressed therebyto rotate the shaft 90 and to rotate a control arm or lever 91 mountedon the shaft 90. The normal position of the control lever 91 is as shownin FIG. '6, in which its upper portion merely rests lightly andineffectually against one of a pair of contact members 92, 93.

When the control lever 91 is rotated in a clockwise direction, such aswhen a moving strip of light sensitive material enters between the biteof the feed rollers 42, 43, the contact members 92, 93 will be pressedinto a closed circuit condition, as shown in FIG. 7, and will energize arotary solenoid 95 which will rotate the collar 86 to turn the upper andlower arms of the shutter to the open position. A return spring 69 issecured to a stud projecting from a plate on the rotary solenoid 95 andis capable of returning the solenoid to its original effective imageintercepting position shown in FIG. 6, when the solenoid istie-energized.

The wiring diagram for the contact members 92, 93 and the rotarysolenoid 95, is shown in FIG. 4. A line switch 82 is provided and may bea toggle switch mounted on the front face of the camera body for ease ofoperation by the user of the camera. This switch is closed manually whenit is desired to use the camera. A strip magazine switch 87 is providedand merely comprises an arm 89 extending from a strip magazine 120, asshown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and is so positioned as to close the contacts94, 9'6 of the strip magazine switch only when the magazine is insertedin the camera in its proper position. This arm 89 extends within thestrip magazine 120 and rests against the side of the rolled strip S on adelivery or supply spool 122 whereby it is held close to the inner wallof the magazine 120. The external portion of the arm 89 will thus beheld well away from the outer surface of the magazine 120 and will keepthe contacts 94, 96 in closed condition as long as the outer portion ofthe arm 89 is urged outwardly by the presence of sufficient rolled stripmaterial on the supply spool 122.

When the supply of strip S is substantially exhausted on the supplyspool 122, the inner portion of the arm 89 will yield inwardly wherebythe outer portion will also move inwardly to permit the magazine switch87 to open and to stop the feed rollers 42, 43 and the operation of thecamera.- This immediately prevents the feeding of additional subjectmaterial M into the camera and the operation cannot be resumed until anew magazine replaces the exhausted magazine and the strip magazineswitch contacts 94 and 9 6 are again closed.

When the trip switch contact members 92, 93 are closed, a current flowsthrough the rotary solenoid 95 and the time required to build upsufiicient charge to operate the same and to move and rotate thesolenoid core (which is an extension of shaft 86) is sufficient topermit the material M to move from its initial position between the biteof the rollers 42, 43 to a point wherein it is entering the space Z bythe time the shutter 83 has opened. As the material M continues throughthe camera, the trip lever 88 remains depressed until the trailing edgeof the material permits the trip lever to be raised to open the tripswitch contacts 92, 93. When this is done, the cur rent passing throughthe rotary solenoid 95 falls off but is delayed sufiiciently bycondenser 103 and rheostat 104 in its circuit, so that the shutter willnot be closed by the rotary solenoid 95 until the trailing edge of thematerial M has cleared the space Z. Inasmuch as the rheostat 104 isvariable, the time of delay for the closing of the shutter may beadjustably selected as desired by the operator by mean-s of an adjustingscrew 115 whereby the shutter may remain open momentarily after thematerial M has passed beyond the space Z so as to provide a narrowseparating space or gap between adjacent recordings onthe strip S, whichmay be varied in width, as desired by the operator, depending on thecircumstances of the particular situation.

Thus, it is seen that the movement of the material M is directlysynchronized with the opening and closing of the shutter 83 whereby theshutter will be closed whenever there is no material being passedthrough the camera in position to be microfilmed. Whenever material isbeing passed through the camera, the shutter will be opened incoordination with the movement of the material M, whereby the path ofthe projected image of the material M passes through the lenses duringthe time that the material is in the space Z, that is, in its properposition to be microfilmed.

It is also necessary to synchronize the opening of the shutter 83 incoordinate relationship to the movement of the strip S as well as to themovement of the material M. This is accomplished by the followingmechanism. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a bell crank lever 97 is pivoted ona stud 98 and has a depending arm 99 in normal pressing contact with therotatable shaft 86 of the solenoid and shutter mechanism. One portion ofthe rotatable shaft 86 is flattened so as to cooperate with thedepending arm 99. As shown in FIG. 6, the lowermost portion of thedepending arm 99 is substantially vertical and a second extending arm100 of the bell crank lever 97 is substantially horizontal and extendsforwardly from the pivot stud 98.

A strip driving roller 101 is mounted on the end of a shaft 107 mountedin bearings in the horizontally extending arm 100 and is normally insuch position asto be out of effective driving contact with the strip S.As seen in FIG. 5, the shaft 107 extends to a position immediatelyadjacent the motor drive shaft 50 and is continuously driven therebythrough a power belt 117 which is guided around pulleys 118, 119 mountedon the motor drive shaft 50 and the driving roller shaft 107,respectively. A bearing 121 is provided at the drive pulley end of thedriving roller shaft 107 which provides a loose mounting therefor sothat the other end of the shaft which carries the driving roller 101 maybe raised or lowered by the action of the bell crank lever 97 tofrictionally contact or be free of the strip S.

Upon the rotary solenoid 95 becoming energized to rotate the shaft 86,the vertically depending arm 99 contacting the flat portion of the shaftwill be rotated on its pivot 98 and will move to the left, as seen inFIG. 7, to cause a rotation of the bell crank 97 in a clockwisedirection to raise driving roller 101 into effective frictional drivingengagement with the strip S. The driving roller 101 presses the strip Sfrictionally against two backing rollers 102 which rotate on shaftsfixed within the magazine casing. This will bring out a firm frictionalengagement between the driving roller 101 and the strip S, whereby thestrip will be driven. When the solenoid 95 is de-energized, the drivingroller 101 will drop away from the strip and its driving engagementtherewith will be ended.

The strip S will thus be driven in positive fashion by the drivingroller 101 only when the rotatable collar or shaft 86 carrying theshutter 83 is rotated to its operative open position. In this way, themovement of the material M causes the rotary solenoid to becomeenergized which coordinately rotates and opens the shutter and at thesame time raises the driving roller to drive the strip S.

The strip driving roller 101 is positioned beyond the slit or aperture70 through which the projected image of the material M passes andactually draws the film across the aperture from the supply or deliveryspool 122. A resilient pad or presser foot 105 is located directly abovethe strip S over the aperture 70 and resiliently presses and guides thestrip thereat.

In order to prevent the formation of slack in the strip S after it haspassed the strip driving roller, it is necessary to provide a positivelydriven take-up spool 106. As shown in FIGS. and 8, a second or take-updriving roller 108 is loosely mounted on the same shaft 107 upon whichthe strip driving roller 101 is mounted. When the driving roller 101 israised, the take-up driving roller 108 will be simultaneously raised andwill contact a large driving wheel 110 which is mounted in resilientsliding fashion upon the frame of the camera body 23 adjacent themagazine.

The operation of the take-up means is best shown in FIG. 8 wherein thetake-up driving roller 108 is shown in driving engagement with the largedriving wheel 110. The large driving wheel 110 is in direct frictionaldriving engagement with a take-up wheel 113 which is fixedly mounted onthe same shaft upon which the take-up spool 106 within the magazine ismounted, whereby the take-up spool 106 will be driven.

A comparison of the diameters of the strip driving roller 101 and thetake-up driving roller 108, as shown in FIG. 5, will show that thetake-up roller 108 is slightly larger which will cause it and allsubsequently driven rollers to tend to be overdriven and to rotate withgreater peripheral speeds than the strip driving roller 101. A slippingclutch arrangement is provided on shaft 107 and comprises a bearing 124fixed to shaft 107 and rotatable therewith and a pressure spring 125abutting against the bearing 124 to exert force through a clutchingarrangement to bring sufficient resilient pressure to bear on thetake-up driving roller 108 so that it is slippingly driven and merelytends to overdrive the take-up roller whereby any tendency to createslack is defeated.

When the vertically depending arm 99 of the bell crank 97 is moved byrotation of the shaft 86, it will raise the take-up driving roller 108upwardly to contact the large driving wheel 110 to drive the take-upwheel 113 and take-up spool 106.

A projecting arm or lug 126, FIG. 8, is formed out of a portion of theframework of the camera body and is in such a position as to contact thelarge driving wheel 110 when the shaft 107 is dropped downwardly to dropthe take-up driving roller 108. When the large driving wheel 110 dropsand contacts the arm 126, a braking action is immediately instituted andany tendency to over-roll is checked. This effectively prevents filmfrom 10 unwinding from the take-up spool. If desired, any other type ofbrake may be employed to prevent this undesirable tendency to unwind.

The film magazine 120 is manually insertable in and removable from thecamera body 23 and is retained in position therein by a spring flex 123secured to the underside of the hinged plate 29. The magazine is removedby raising the hinged plate 29 and merely lifting out the magazine whichnaturally rests upon the flanged bracket 71. Inasmuch as a positivedriving relationship must be maintained between the take-up wheel 113mounted on the magazine and the large driving wheel mounted on the frameof the camera body 23, a resilient mounting is provided for the largedriving wheel, as shown in FIG. 8. The large driving wheel 110 ismounted upon one end of a bifurcated lever 112, the legs of which areslidably received on a fixed stud 114. A spring 116 is secured to a lugmounted on the fixed stud 114 and is attached to the opposite end of thebifurcated lever 112 and tends to pull the large driving wheel in thedirection of the stud 114, so that the normal position of the largedriving wheel 110 will be as far to the right as possible, in FIG. 8.When the magazine is inserted downwardly into the camera body, thetake-up wheel 113 mounted on the magazine will contact the large drivingwheel 110 and urge it downwardly and to the left against the action ofthe tension spring 116 whereby a strong frictional driving engagement isobtained.

As shown in FIG. 15, an improved manner of inserting the film magazineis shown wherein the magazine 120 may be guided into position by a slideplate which has a spring flex 141 mounted on its lower end. This springflex 141 urges the lower portion of the magazine 120 to its proper lowerleft position, as viewed in FIG. 15, and, when the upper portion of themagazine 120 is manually guided to the left, it is held in that positionby a spring flex which snaps into a holding recess 148 on the magazine120 and maintains it in proper position. The removal of the magazinetakes place in similar fashion but in reversed manner, of course. Thetop of the magazine is first moved to the right until it is clear of thesnap catch 145 and contacts the guide plate 140. Then, it may bemanually removed from the camera body.

The film magazine 120 is illustrated in FIG. 9 and the relative locatingof apertures 127 and 129 is to be noted. The aperture 127 provides forthe driving mechanism of the camera to contact the strip to drive it,whereas the aperture 129 provides for the projection on the strip of theminified image of the material passing through the camera.

Inasmuch as the apertures must be open during the operation of thecamera and must be covered when the magazine case is removed from thecamera, an aperture shield 153 must be provided which is capable ofmovement automatically between an open and a covered position when thecase is inserted in or removed from the camera.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the hinged plate cover 29 is provided withdepending bracket 142 and pivot stud 144 for freely and rotatablymounting an operating lever 143 thereon. The lower part of the operatinglever 143 is provided with a pivotal stud 146, the end of which isreceived slidably within a guide slot 147 in the framework of thecamera. When the hinged cover 29 is raised to its upright open position,as shown in dot-dash outline in FIG. 14, the operating lever 143 willcorrespondingly be raised and drawn to the left whereby the stud 146will move from the right-hand end of the slot 147 to the lefthand endthereof. When the hinged cover 29 is lowered to its closed position, asshown in the dotted outline in FIG. 14, the operating lever stud 146 isreturned to its lower right-hand end of the slot 147.

An angular arm 149 of the operating lever 143 extends .under themagazine case 120 and possesses an upstanding stud 150 capable ofpenetrating a slot 152 in the bottom of the magazine case which, at thisparticular location, is double walled. The length of the stud 150 issuch as to penetrate only the outer wall of the bottom of the case whichleaves the inner wall imperforate and light sealing. The slot 152 isformed in the outer wall of the bottom of the case and the stud 150 iscapable of guided sliding motion therein as actuated by the movements ofthe arm 149 and the operating lever 143.

The shield 153 comprises a strip of flexible material capable of fittingbetween the walls of the double-walled bottom of the case and slidingtherein. A slot 155 is formed in the shield 153 and is so arranged as tolie across the slot 152 of the outer bottom wall of the casing and to bepenetrated by the upwardly extending stud 150 of the operating lever143. It will therefore be appreciated that the to'and-fro motion of theoperating lever stud 146 in the camera slot 147 and a correspondingmovement of the stud 150 in the magazine slot 152 will move the shield153 to-and-fro from the open aperture position shown in FIGS. 14 and 16when the camera cover plate 29 is down, to a closed aperture positionwhen the camera cover plate 29 is up.

In such a way, the apertures for the lens and the driving roller in themagazine will be automatically uncovered and opened whenever the cover29 is lowered for operation of the camera and will be automaticallycovered and closed whenever the cover 29 is raised for removal of themagazine.

' Whenever a fresh magazine is to be inserted in the camera, its shield153 should be in the closed or covered position and the stud 150 willnaturally enter the opening 155 of the shield and will be in readinessto uncover the apertures when the hinged cover 29 is lowered.

A more compact mechanism is disclosed in FIGS. 17 and 18 for theoperation of the shutter movement. A rotary solenoid 95' is used but isso positioned that the plane of rotation of the shutter member 83 ishorizontal. It will be readily apparent that energization of'thesolenoid 95' will cause a rapid rotation of the shutter 83' from theposition shown in FIG. 18, wherein it covers the aperture for the cameralens to an open position wherein the lens will be open for the receptionof the projection of the image of the material to be microfilmed.

A slightly different arrangement is provided to coordinate the raisingof the strip driving roller 101' with the opening of the shutter. Suchan arrangement comprises an annular cam 156 which is mounted on a coverportion 157 of the rotary solenoid 95' so as to be rotated insynchronism with the shutter 83'. Movement of the annular cam 156 willcause a cam follower or roller 158 to be correspondingly raised and tourge the strip driving roller 101' into frictional driving contact withthe strip S. It is .to be noted that the strip driving roller 101' ismounted on the end of a constantly rotating shaft 107' and that adriving roller 108' and a spring pressed clutch 124', 125' are similarlyprovided to drive the take-up roller in an overdrive relationship invery much the same manner as that set forth in FIG. 8.

A modification of the mechanism whereby the film strip may be drivenintermittently in coordinated relationship with the movement of materialinto the camera and the rotation of the intercepting shutter is shown inFIGS. 11 and 12 wherein solenoid 95 is shown in de-energized position.Upon the energization of solenoid 95 in the usual way by the entrance ofmaterial into the camera to be microfilmed, the shaft 86 rotates andcauses rotation of a bell crank lever 97 having a vertically dependingarm 99' and a pair of horizontally extending arms 100'. The bell crank97' pivots on a stud or shaft 109 and is urged counterclockwise againstthe action of a tension spring 111 by the rotation of the shaft 86 whichpresses against the vertically depending arm,99'.

In this particular type of mechanism, the strip driving roller 101 ismounted on a shaft 107 which is received in relatively unyieldingbearings and rotates on a fixed axis. The two arms 100' extend adjacentthe strip S and contact its undersurface which is resiliently backed upby a spring flex 128 which normally tends to press the strip S againstthe strip driving roller 101 in frictional driving engagement therewith.Energization of the sole noid causes the arms tobe lowered wherebyfrictional driving engagement is established and the strip S is advancedpast the lens aperture 129.

Upward movement of the arms 1% caused by the deenergization of thesolenoid 95 and the action of spring 111, will raise the spring fieX 128to destroy the frictional contact between the strip S and the stripdriving roller 101, and the strip will immediately cease its forwardmotion. A strip guide and roller device 139 is also provided in themagazine to guide the strip close to the apertures 127, 129 in themagazine 120.

Another modification of the mechanism whereby the film strip may beintermittently driven in coordinated relationship with the movement ofmaterial into the camera and the rotation of the shutter is shown inFIG. 13. In this modification, the driving power is supplied by arotatable pulley wheel 132 cooperating with a large driven pulley wheel133 which is secured on a movable shaft 134 mounted in a pivotallymounted extending arm or swivel 135 and capable of a slight verticalmovement. A power belt 136 is trained over the pulley wheel 132 and thelarge pulley wheel 133 whereby a driving relationship is established. Astrip contacting and driving roller 101 is also fixedly mounted on theshaft 134 and is in a position normally clear of the strip S so as to beincapable of driving the same.

A solenoid 137, which is coordinated with the rotary solenoid 95 isarranged above the lever 135 and is secured to it by a connecting rod138 secured to the core 139 of the solenoid 137. When the solenoid 137is energized, it will draw the connecting rod 138 upwardly to raiselever 135 and strip driving roller 101 whereby the strip will be driventhrough the action of the spring flex 128 and the strip driving roller101.

The solenoids 137 and 95 may be actuated simultaneously or may beoperated in sequence in any desired time relationship whereby theopening of the shutter may be coordinated to the moving of the strip andto the entrance of material into the camera.

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of theclaims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. For a microfilm camera that is formed with drive means to engage andadvance the film, a film magazine comprising:

a casing that is formed with a wall having at least two parallel sideedges, said wall having a pair of spaced apertures therein disposed suchthat the centers thereof lie on an axis parallel to one side edgej meansto mount the film in the casing;

means to guide the film from a first, supply location in the casingthrough a path and along an interior surface of said wall in which asurface of the film is in confronting relation to the interior wallsurface of a second, take-up location in the casing;

curtain means in said casing for movement to a first position in whichboth apertures are open and to a second position in which both aperturesare closed;

means mounted in said casing to position the film at one of saidapertures in a focal plane for exposure for the photographic recordingthereon of desired 1 3 means for frictionally engaging and driving thefilm to advance the film, a film magazine comprising:

a casing that is formed with a wall having at least two parallel sideedges, said wall having a pair of spaced apertures therein disposed suchthat the centers thereof lie on an axis parallel to one side edge;

means to mount the film in the casing including a supply spool and atake-up spool;

means to guide the film from the supply spool through a path within thecasing along an interior surface of said wall in which a surface of thefilm is in confronting relation to said interior Wall surface to thetake-up spool;

unitary curtain means in said casing for movement to a first position inwhich both apertures are open and to a second position in which bothapertures are closed;

means mounted in said casing to position the film at one of saidapertures in a focal plane for exposure for the photographic recordingthereon of desired images; and means mounted in said casing at the otherof the apertures for engaging the film to permit the film to befrictionally engaged by said drive means of the camera.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. FOR A MICROFILM CAMERA THAT IS FORMED WITH DRIVE MEANS TO ENGAGE ANDADVANCE THE FILM, A FILM MAGAZINE COMPRISING: A CASING THAT IS FORMEDWITH A WALL HAVING AT LEAST TWO PARALLEL SIDE EDGES, SAID WALL HAVING APAIR OF SPACED APERTURES THEREIN DISPOSED SUCH THAT THE CENTERS THEREOFLIE ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO ONE SIDE EDGE; MEANS TO MOUNT THE FILM IN THECASING; MEANS TO GUIDE THE FILM FROM A FIRST, SUPPLY LOCATION IN THECASING THROUGH A PATH AND ALONG AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID WALL INWHICH A SURFACE OF THE FILM IS IN CONFRONTING RELATION TO THE INTERIORWALL SURFACE OF A SECOND, TAKE-UP LOCATION IN THE CASING; CURTAIN MEANSIN SAID CASING FOR MOVEMENT TO A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH BOTH APERTURESARE OPEN AND TO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH BOTH APERTURES ARE CLOSED;